Born: July 6, 1957

Mary Witt, critically acclaimed singer and bass player for The O-Tones of Western Massachusetts, celebrates the release of her first solo CD, Dance With Me. Sultry, soulful, and sassy, this album will make you swoon and kick up your heels.

The music spans various genres from swing and jazz to rhythm & blues and soul. It glides seamlessly from the old favorite ballad “The Very Thought Of You” to the upbeat swing tune “Almost Like Being in Love”. New Orleans hit “Teardrops From My Eyes” segues to Cab Calloway's “Everybody Eats When They Come To My House with a contemporary culinary flavor. Also included are Ray Charles’ “Roll With My Baby” and Frank Sinatra’s “Come Dance With Me”, the title cut....
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Mary Witt, critically acclaimed singer and bass player for The O-Tones of Western Massachusetts, celebrates the release of her first solo CD, Dance With Me. Sultry, soulful, and sassy, this album will make you swoon and kick up your heels.

The music spans various genres from swing and jazz to rhythm & blues and soul. It glides seamlessly from the old favorite ballad “The Very Thought Of You” to the upbeat swing tune “Almost Like Being in Love”. New Orleans hit “Teardrops From My Eyes” segues to Cab Calloway's “Everybody Eats When They Come To My House with a contemporary culinary flavor. Also included are Ray Charles’ “Roll With My Baby” and Frank Sinatra’s “Come Dance With Me”, the title cut.

Sure to become a classic, Dance With Me lulls the listener into wanting to be in love, even in a most ironic twist described in Freddie Cole's A Sinner Kissed An Angel. Taking an Audrey Morris song How'd Ya Like To Love Me? and turning it into a duet captures the sweet, longed-for corniness of the 1940's. Lou Rawl's rendition of Fine Brown Frame gets a facelift to include reference to a current star.

Some quotes about Dance With Me:

Mary Witt is one of the most engaging and delightful song stylists on the contemporary American music scene Marc Berman, Wilks Broadcasting

Stunning!! Sultry vocals, stellar arrangements of classic tunes and a rock-solid band of east coast luminaries that know how to swing and groove. What more is there? A stunning debut from a truly talented and sensitive interpreter of a time-honored genre. Thank you, Mary! Jim Henry, singer/songwriter Amherst, MA

The whole thing is fabulous. I especially like the inside of the tray card. Very exciting design. Elegant and fun. I've given your cd to several people and they've loved it. Me, too. -Alice Teeter Atlanta, GA

Your CD is STUNNING!! It melts me! You all did a great, great job. Your voice, the songs, the playing....yow! -Brooks Williams, singer/songwriter Amherst, MA

Great for listening, even better for dancing! A full, rich voice carried along with musical friends. You just can't help but want to dance to this sound. -Debin Bruce

Some people sound good singing the phonebook. The greatness of some songs comes through even when played on a garden hose. Dance With Me is a terrific combination of songs and a singer that can each stand on their own. Ms. Witt has chosen her material wisely, including the Irma Thomas classic It's Raining, Fine Brown Frame, Teardrops From My Eyes, and Roll with My Baby. Then she's added a great band- the guitar playing in particular stands out to me- and she tops it off by singing the heck out of everything. I enjoyed this CD from the get-go, but I didn't realize how impressed I was until A Sinner Kissed and Angel came up on my ITunes shuffle mix and I ran to the computer to see who had such a lovely and vulnerable take on that song. A fine effort from a fine singer. -Tom Mahnken Trailer Park band

I love the mix of songs on this CD! Mary Witt sings with such smoothness, expression and exuberance that you can feel her love for this music. The arrangements are tasty and the excellent musicians and vocalists are always on the same page.From the horn intro on Everybody Eats When They Come to my House to the funky Ti Ni Nee Ni Nu this is great dancing and traveling music! Listen to Mary Witt and Ann Percival sing Almost Like Being in Love and you'll be hooked! Enjoy! - Aloha, Rich

“Everybody Eats When They Come to My House” is a great old Cab Calloway song that Mary Witt sings on her new album. This music is made for dancing and you will be rolling up the rug to jitterbug to Almost Like Being in Love, Roll With My Baby and more. Johnny Memphis Daily Hampshire Gazette

HOW TO ORDER:

Online: Cdbaby.com Amazon.com Also available as digital downloads: Itunes (Mac and PC) Yahoo Music (PC only)

Direct: Www.havetodance.com/otones/

Awards

Voted best swing band in the Valley numerous times, Valley Advocates' Grand Band Slam people's choice

The O-Tones use complicated harmonies, tight ensemble playing and a smart, sexy approach to classic tunes to make music that is a celebration of our heritage.
-Christopher Boucher,
Daily Hampshire Gazette
Great music like The O-Tones’ repertoire is timeless. The trio of vocalists have their own style, blending their voices in original ways to fit each song. Each singer is versatile at leads as well as great at harmonizing. ...cool organ and piano excursions as well as soulful sax stylings over a solid rhythm foundation.
-Paul Burton,
Music Revue